The Milton Logistics Hub was approved by the federal government on January 21, 2021, following an extensive environmental assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. CN willingly entered into this transparent, thorough and public process to ensure full compliance and to make sure our project meets the highest standards of environmental protection and community accountability.

The review process included:

• An independent Joint Review Panel assessment, appointed by the federal government to conduct a thorough review of the project’s potential environmental and community impacts
• Hundreds of public consultations and stakeholder engagements, ensuring community concerns were considered
• Collaboration with regulators, environmental experts and Indigenous groups to develop comprehensive environmental and safety measures

In their official report, the Joint Review Panel found that the Milton Logistics Hub constitutes critical infrastructure necessary to support Canada's supply chain. The panel also concluded that additional intermodal capacity is required in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area and that “smooth and connected logistics management” is essential to maintaining a strong national supply chain. These findings directly contributed to the federal government's approval of the Milton Logistics Hub.

Fact:
The Milton Logistics Hub underwent one of the most extensive environmental assessments in Canada, resulting in 325 legally binding conditions imposed by the federal government to protect the community and environment.

Regulatory Conditions

CN is fully committed to meeting—and exceeding—the hundreds of conditions that guide our project, which include:

• Strict environmental mitigation measures
• Ongoing monitoring and transparent reporting during and post-construction
• Community engagement throughout construction and operations
• Comprehensive safety protocols

The environmental protection conditions that guide our project are all publicly available through the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency registry.

Additional oversight is provided by:

• Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
• The Canadian Transportation Agency
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Transport Canada
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• The Province of Ontario and the Halton Region

CN meets with these regulatory bodies on a regular basis throughout planning, construction and operations to ensure continued oversight and compliance.

CN moves more than $250 billion worth of goods across North America every year. If you've bought groceries, electronics, household items, clothing, or car parts—chances are they travelled in a CN container. With a growing population and rising demand across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), the need for modern freight capacity is increasing rapidly.

The Milton Logistics Hub is CN’s response to that demand—a $250 million investment in Ontario’s future that will strengthen the national supply chain, support job creation and help Canadian businesses access new markets.

Fueling Job Creation

The project will deliver direct and indirect employment benefits throughout construction and operations:

• 130 direct on-site jobs once the Milton Logistics Hub is operational
• Over 1,000 additional jobs in the goods movement and logistics sector
• Hundreds of indirect jobs created during site development, equipment installation and civil works

In addition to long-term jobs at the terminal itself, truck access infrastructure, stormwater systems and rail realignments will require local labour, contractors and skilled trades throughout construction.

Supporting Local Businesses

The Milton Logistics Hub is being built in one of Canada’s fastest-growing economic regions—strategically located to serve retailers, manufacturers and e-commerce companies operating across Ontario and beyond. The facility will:

• Improve freight access to regional and global markets
• Increase transportation reliability and reduce shipping delays
• Help lower transportation costs and reduce inventory risks

Fact:
Intermodal shipping is the fastest-growing mode of freight transportation in North America, offering flexible, cost-effective delivery options by rail, truck and ship.

Investing in Canada’s Economy

The Milton Logistics Hub supports trade and economic resilience through:

• $250 million in private investment into modern, trade-enabling infrastructure
• New tax revenues to support healthcare, education and other public services
• Greater economic competitiveness for Canadian exporters through improved access to ports and terminals

At CN, we believe that strong infrastructure begins with strong relationships. The Milton Logistics Hub has been shaped by community input and continues to reflect our commitment to safety, transparency and local collaboration.

Ongoing Community Engagement

Since 2015, CN has engaged with residents, Indigenous groups, local leaders and stakeholders in Milton and Halton Region. Engagement activities have included:

• Public information centres and open houses
• One-on-one meetings and correspondence
• Participation in community events and forums

In 2021, CN launched a Community Consultation Committee to ensure meaningful, ongoing dialogue throughout the development and operation of the Milton Logistics Hub. This committee includes residents, business representatives and local leaders and is supported by an independent facilitator to ensure transparency and accountability. CN shares updates on environmental monitoring, project timelines and restoration efforts directly with the committee and the broader community. CN has also refined design elements of the project and mitigation measures based on input from the committee. Learn more about the committee and their work on their website.

Consideration of Community Input

In response to community feedback, CN has made several important refinements to the project design and mitigation measures, including:

• Relocating the truck access road from Tremaine Road to Britannia Road to reduce local traffic impacts
• Aligning the entrance with the planned collector road in the Boyne Survey Secondary Plan to enhance safety and traffic flow
• Adding a 1.7 km internal access road and overpass on CN property to ensure trucks queue away from local streets
• Constructing a grade separation at the Lower Base Line to separate road traffic from rail operations and improve safety
• Directing CN-controlled trucks to use Highway 407 whenever practical, helping to reduce congestion on local roads

These design updates reflect CN’s commitment to building the project in a way that respects and responds to community priorities.

Engagement with Indigenous Groups

CN is committed to building respectful and lasting relationships with Indigenous Nations. Since the early stages of the Milton Logistics Hub, CN has engaged with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River and the Huron-Wendat Nation to ensure Indigenous knowledge, values, and perspectives are meaningfully reflected in the project through:

• Active participation in environmental and archaeological field surveys
• Collaboration on archaeological work, including review of draft reports and the naming of identified sites
• Completion of a Traditional Land Use Study to inform the environmental assessment
• Continued integration of Traditional Knowledge into cultural, environmental and project design considerations

CN remains committed to this engagement throughout construction and operations, including opportunities for Indigenous participation in post-approval monitoring and habitat restoration initiatives.

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The Milton Logistics Hub promotes a shift from road to rail—helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance Canada’s climate goals. Trains are, on average, four times more fuel-efficient than long-haul trucks. By shifting freight to rail, the Milton Logistics Hub will reduce emissions, cut highway congestion and support more sustainable trade.

The facility is designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating leading environmental management practices. Through a collaborative and science-based approach, CN is committed to avoiding, mitigating and offsetting potential environmental effects during construction and operations.

One of the most important decisions in designing the Milton Logistics Hub was selecting the right location. CN has operated safely in Milton for over 100 years and has owned the land where the project is being built since the 1990s. The site has long been designated for employment uses that support rail-based development. After evaluating several alternatives, this location was selected for its direct access to CN’s mainline, proximity to 400-series highways and its location within a fast-growing logistics corridor—surrounded by existing and planned warehouses. It also offers the ability to minimize environmental impacts compared to other options.

The Milton Logistics Hub underwent one of the most extensive environmental assessments ever conducted for a rail infrastructure project in Canada. The review was carried out by a Joint Review Panel under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 and included:

• Detailed technical and scientific studies by CN and its consultants
• Input from Indigenous groups, government agencies, municipalities and the public
• A public hearing process with formal presentations and submissions

The federal review involved multiple departments, including:

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
• Health Canada
• Transport Canada
• Natural Resources Canada
• Parks Canada

The Minister of Environment and Climate Change concluded that the project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects under federal jurisdiction, provided that CN meets all mandated conditions.

CN is legally bound to comply with 325 federal conditions established through this process. These conditions guide environmental protection throughout design, construction and operation—and are all publicly available through the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency registry.

Habitat Enhancement

CN is enhancing local ecosystems through legally required offsetting measures that restore and create fish habitat. Key elements include:

• Realignment and restoration of sections of Indian Creek and Tributaries A and C
• Construction of new fish habitat using natural channel designs, resting pools and riparian vegetation
• Wetland and oxbow creation to support aquatic life and native species
• Removal of artificial barriers and naturalization of a former on-line agricultural pond
• Targeted habitat creation for Western Chorus Frog, including exclusion fencing, wetland connectivity and long-term monitoring developed with Environment and Climate Change Canada and Conservation Halton
• Land-based offsetting in partnership with Six Nations, including tree planting and reforestation on lands selected for ecological enhancement

Habitat Restoration Progress Photos

Tributary A off-line restoration area – November 2022

Tributary A off-line restoration area – May 2025

Indian Creek off-line channel restoration area – November 2022

Indian Creek off-line channel restoration area – May 2025

As part of this work, Traditional Knowledge shared by Indigenous groups was considered in the assessment and design of mitigation measures. Indigenous environmental and archaeological monitors also participated in fieldwork and Indigenous groups contributed input throughout archaeological investigations, including naming identified sites.

These measures will be monitored post-construction to ensure they succeed and function as intended.

The Environmental Benefits of Shipping by Rail

As one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly ways to move goods, rail has a tremendous potential to reduce the environmental impact of transportation by offering sustainable transportation solutions today and into the future.

Rail is one of the most sustainable ways of shipping cargo over land, emitting four times less greenhouse gases than trucking alone.

CN is also the most carbon-efficient North American railroad, consuming 15% less fuel per gross ton mile than the industry average.

468 miles

One train can move on average
468 miles on a single gallon of fuel

 

75%

GHG reduction moving freight
by rail instead of truck

As per the Association of American Railroads

Reducing Impacts During Construction

To minimize impacts during construction, CN will:

• Use berms, buffers and native vegetation to reduce dust and noise
• Employ energy-efficient equipment to lower emissions
• Monitor environmental performance and report on compliance
• Avoid in-water work during sensitive fish spawning periods

The project also includes advanced stormwater management features such as oil grit separators, engineered ponds and protective outlet designs to manage runoff and water quality.

As part of CN’s environmental commitments, all workers on the Milton Logistics Hub receive wildlife awareness training to identify Species at Risk and migratory birds and understand how to respond to encounters. Construction is guided by a Wildlife Management Plan, with seasonal restrictions, exclusion fencing and monitoring protocols in place to protect sensitive species such as barn swallows, chorus frogs, turtles, bats and monarch butterflies.

Ongoing Oversight and Engagement

Environmental protection does not end with project approval. CN is committed to ongoing engagement with Indigenous groups, local stakeholders and government agencies to meet all 325 federally mandated conditions.

As part of this commitment, CN continues to work with the Community Consultation Committee —a forum that brings together local representatives, residents and CN to share information and feedback. Through this committee, CN provides updates on environmental monitoring programs, habitat restoration efforts and overall project performance.

Indigenous groups are also offered opportunities to participate in post-approval monitoring and habitat restoration activities, ensuring that their knowledge and values continue to inform the long-term stewardship of the site.